History of Scouting in
London

Baden-Powell House in London

As the capital city of the United Kingdom, London has played a
key role in the development of Scouting. In 1909 some troops broke
away from Baden-Powell's
official Boys Scouts to form the British Boy
Scouts. Sir Francis Vane was the leader and previously
Baden-Powell's Commissioner for London..[3]

One of the oldest Scout Groups in London is the 1st City of
London Scout Group, which is still notable as the only Scout Group
in the traditional City of London.[4]

London Scouts celebrated the centenary of Scouting on 1 Aug 2007
in many ways, including the New Year's Day Parade in which
many Explorer Scouts were led by the Enfield
District Scout Band, LIVE 07, Festival of Scouting, and a
Sunrise Ceremony at the London Eye.[7][8] The
first UK international camp of the new Scouting century was
Campdowne 2008 in July 2008, where nearly 2000 participants from
the UK and 23 other countries camped at Downe Scout Activity
Centre.[9]

The County currently has over 7,000 members in 139 Scout Groups,
supported by a County Leadership Group, consisting of the County
Commissioner, the four Deputy County Commissioners, the County
Chairman and a Young Person Representative. This Group meets every
two months to review the growth and development of Scouting in
Greater London North East.

Activity Centres and Camp
sites

The White House at Gilwell Park

Three of the four Scout Association Activity
Centres are in Greater London. Baden-Powell House is a hostel and
conference centre in central London. Gilwell Park is a camp site and activity
centre, as well as a training and conference centre
for Scout Leaders.
It is close to Chingford, London. The White House at Gilwell Park has been
the headquarters of The Scout Association since 2001, although
Baden-Powell House (the former headquarters) still facilitates some
departments of the Scout Association. Downe Scout Activity Centre
is in Kent, but was owned by the Greater London South East Scouts
from 1987 to 2005, when the site became under the direct control of
The Scout Association.

The Greater London Middlesex West Scout Association County is
responsible for the Chalfont Heights camp site 30 minutes from
London in Buckinghamshire. Originally purchased in 1938, it was
operated by Scout Headquarters until 1970 when it taken over by the
Greater London Middlesex West County as its County campsite and
Training Centre.[25]

Danemead Scout Campsite, Scout Park, Bounds Green (Haringey
District Scouts) and Frith Grange are associated with the Greater
London North Scout Association County.[13]
The County is also responsible for Enfield Scout Sailing
Association (ESSA).[26]

The Training ship RRS Discovery, Captain
Scott's Antarctic expedition vessel, moored on the Embankment
near the Temple was used by the Scouts between 1937 and 1979, when
it was handed over to Maritime Trust and relocated in Dundee. The
Docklands Scout Project was then created.[27] The
Project is on the Isle
of Dogs, in East London, east of the financial City of London
and opposite Greenwich
across the River
Thames.[28]

The Greater London North East Scout Association County also owns
(through its Districts) the following Scout Activity Centres: Crow
Camp, Fairmead Scout Campsite (East London District),[29]
Hargreaves Scout Campsite (Ilford East District),[30] and
the Michael Mallinson Centre ( Waltham Forest South District).[31]

Greater London South Scout Association County owns the South
London Scout Centre, the closest camping centre to central London
at Dulwich.[32] The
District campsite is Hammerwood campsite[33],
located in East Grinstead. It is 27 acres of woodland plus a field.
The forest is mostly unpartitioned and this makes it a favourite
for survival training weekends and reenactment/live action role player games.

Wilberforce Scout Centre is owned by Bromley Scout District of
the Greater London South East Scout Association County.[35]

Yr Hen Neuadd ('The Old Hall'), Bethesda, Gwynedd, North Wales,
originally a Salvation Army Hall, was converted in 1970 by the
Greater London South West Scout Association County as an Activity
Centre.[36]

The Bears Wood Training Centre and Pinewood Campsites are the
responsibility of the Croydon District

Polyapes Campsite lies just outside the county boundaries but is
managed jointly between Royal Kingston and Esher Districts.It has
been in continuous use since 1929.[37]

21st
World Scout Jamboree

There were 36 Scouts from Greater London North taking part in
the 21st World Scout Jamboree in
August 2007. The Enfield District Scout Band played at the Closing
Ceremony.[38]

The Greater London North East Scout County sent forty-five
Scouts to the 21st World Scout Jamboree.
Thirty six, plus four leaders, acted as a whole contingent while
the remaining nine were part of another contingent with Guides from
Cambridge and a Scout
troop from Montserrat.[39]

Two contingents from the Greater London South East Scout County
attended.[40]

Greater London South West (GLSW) had two full contingents (of 36
Scouts plus 4 leaders each) named Victory Unit and Nelson Unit.
GLSW Additionally provided a patrol (9 Scouts) and the overall unit
leader in the most diverse unit at the jamboree, consisting of 25%
GLSW Scouts, 25% Scouts from Fife in Scotland, 25% Guides from
Somerset and 25% Scouts from Mauritania in North Africa. This unit
was named The Discovery Unit. Two of the unit were present at the
Sunrise Ceremony on Brownsea Island to welcome the 2nd century of
Scouting at the movement's birth place.

Sutton District's and Kingston District's Scout Bands (both part
of GLSW) played at the closing ceremony.